1920
Pope
2005
Pope John Paul Ii
May 18, 1920 — April 2, 2005
Karol Józef Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow, on May 18, 1920. He was the son of Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother died in 1929 and his father, a non-commissioned army officer died in 1941.
In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the "Rhapsodic Theatre," also clandestine.
Soon after, Cardinal Sapieha sent him to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange. He finished his doctorate in theology in 1948 with a thesis on the topic of faith in the works of St. John of the Cross. At that time, during his vacations, he exercised his pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland.
In 1948 he returned to Poland and was vicar of various parishes in Cracow as well as chaplain for the university students until 1951, when he took up again his studies on philosophy and theology.
On July 4, 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated September 28, 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Cracow, by Archbishop Baziak.
On January 13, 1964, he was nominated Archbishop of Cracow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal June 26, 1967.
Since the start of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II completed 102 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 144 within Italy.
The Pope also published three books: "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" October 1994; "Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination" November 1996 and "Roman Tryptych - Meditations", a book of poems March 2003.
No other Pope has encountered so many individuals like John Paul II: more than 17, 119, 200 pilgrims have participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays. Such figure is without counting all other special audiences and religious ceremonies held and the millions of faithful met during pastoral visits made in Italy and throughout the world. It must also be remembered the numerous government personalities encountered during 38 official visits and in the 709 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and even the 241 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the "Rhapsodic Theatre," also clandestine.
Soon after, Cardinal Sapieha sent him to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange. He finished his doctorate in theology in 1948 with a thesis on the topic of faith in the works of St. John of the Cross. At that time, during his vacations, he exercised his pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland.
In 1948 he returned to Poland and was vicar of various parishes in Cracow as well as chaplain for the university students until 1951, when he took up again his studies on philosophy and theology.
On July 4, 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated September 28, 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Cracow, by Archbishop Baziak.
On January 13, 1964, he was nominated Archbishop of Cracow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal June 26, 1967.
Since the start of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II completed 102 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 144 within Italy.
The Pope also published three books: "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" October 1994; "Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination" November 1996 and "Roman Tryptych - Meditations", a book of poems March 2003.
No other Pope has encountered so many individuals like John Paul II: more than 17, 119, 200 pilgrims have participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays. Such figure is without counting all other special audiences and religious ceremonies held and the millions of faithful met during pastoral visits made in Italy and throughout the world. It must also be remembered the numerous government personalities encountered during 38 official visits and in the 709 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and even the 241 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
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